H.R. No. 751 R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, Pharr Elementary School was recently selected to 1-2 serve as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency, joining an 1-3 elite group of public schools chosen for a leadership role in the 1-4 state Mentor School Network; and 1-5 WHEREAS, Founded in 1993, the Mentor School Network strives 1-6 to enhance the quality of education in our state by creating a 1-7 cadre of exceptional and innovative schools that other schools can 1-8 turn to for guidance, training, and staff development and to share 1-9 new ideas and programs; an immediate success, the network now 1-10 includes more than 2,000 schools statewide and has won widespread 1-11 acclaim at both the state and national levels; and 1-12 WHEREAS, Pharr Elementary School currently ranks as the top 1-13 performing school in its district based on Texas Assessment of 1-14 Academic Skills test scores and has earned statewide Commended 1-15 School status and Recognized School status in recent years for its 1-16 students' impressive display of academic achievement; and 1-17 WHEREAS, Students at Pharr take part in an extended school 1-18 day that enables them to participate in computer labs, journal 1-19 writing, reading clubs, and science and math projects, activities 1-20 that stimulate their critical and creative thinking abilities while 1-21 emphasizing reading and writing fundamentals; and 1-22 WHEREAS, Teachers take part in a program of ongoing 1-23 professional development in which they polish their basic skills 1-24 and become familiar with new teaching methods and technology; their 2-1 efforts have not only produced tangible results in the classroom, 2-2 but have garnered awards from the local school district, which has 2-3 named a Pharr teacher the district Teacher of the Year on three 2-4 separate occasions in recent years; and 2-5 WHEREAS, This exemplary school owes much of its success to 2-6 principal Raul Garza and facilitator Joe Sepulveda, for they have 2-7 provided outstanding direction to the school's talented faculty and 2-8 staff and have enlisted parents, area businesses, and community 2-9 volunteers to help the school's students realize their full 2-10 potential; and 2-11 WHEREAS, Joining Pharr Elementary School as new Mentor 2-12 Schools this year are two other excellent schools in the Pharr-San 2-13 Juan-Alamo Independent School District--Napper Elementary School 2-14 and Carnahan Elementary School; with their selection, this district 2-15 in the Rio Grande Valley claims the singular distinction of being 2-16 the only school district in the state with three Mentor Schools, a 2-17 noteworthy achievement that is truly a source of great pride for 2-18 local citizens; and 2-19 WHEREAS, A shining example of excellence in education, Pharr 2-20 Elementary School is helping shape tomorrow's leaders with pride 2-21 and determination and indeed merits our highest praise and 2-22 recognition for its commendable participation in the Mentor School 2-23 Network; now, therefore, be it 2-24 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 74th Texas 2-25 Legislature hereby congratulate Pharr Elementary School on its 2-26 selection as a Mentor School by the Texas Education Agency and 2-27 commend its dedicated faculty, staff, parents, and students for 3-1 their diligence in securing this significant achievement; and, be 3-2 it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 3-4 prepared for prominent display at Pharr Elementary School as an 3-5 expression of highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives.